Syracuse football cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu, the younger brother of NFL safety Obi Melifonwu, made a favorable impression early to position himself as one of the most intriguing freshmen to watch in 2018.(Dennis Nett | dnett@syracuse.com)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- In order to land one of its most coveted recruits in the 2017 recruiting class, Syracuse football had to withstand a pursuit from Jim Harbaugh and his staff at Michigan.

Harbaugh dangled a scholarship offer in front of Ifeatu Melifonwu around the time he was set to take a recruiting visit to Syracuse University days before signing day.

The Big Ten blue blood saw what Syracuse did: the potential for Melifonwu to develop into a spitting image of a guy who would soon light up the NFL Scouting Combine and become a second-round pick of the Oakland Raiders -- his older brother, Obi.

"I've always been explosive," said Melifonwu, the youngest of four siblings and a 6-foot-3, 198-pound redshirt freshman cornerback for the Orange. "It sort of runs in my family."

It did not take long for Melifonwu to back up that assertion. He recorded a broad jump of 10 feet, 4 inches and a vertical jump of 40 inches during testing last year. To put that in perspective, Obi recorded a vertical jump of 44 inches and broad jump of 11 feet, 9 inches at last year's combine. Both marks were the best of any player participating.

Melifonwu will turn 19 in May. He has as many as four years to continue developing his body and building up his profile. He's still a pup within the context of his college career, but he made a favorable impression early to position himself as one of the most intriguing freshmen to watch in 2018.

"Right when I got here, I definitely didn't think I was ready (to play)," he said, "but then after a couple weeks in camp I got moved up to a two. I already had it in my mind that I was redshirting, but I could see that if I didn't redshirt, I had a chance to really get involved and play a role."

Syracuse, perhaps with an eye toward the big picture, resisted the urge to play Melifonwu last season, granting him time to learn the defense and build his strength.

"I definitely got a lot stronger," he said, "way stronger than I was before. I think I gained like 5 pounds, but I've been getting stronger the whole time."

Syracuse returns two starting cornerbacks in redshirt junior Chris Fredrick and junior Scoop Bradshaw. But there is a young wave of corners Syracuse needs to get ready if attrition hits, and Melifonwu is right there at the top. Syracuse also recruited him believing he could contribute at nickel and at free safety.

Obi starred at safety for Connecticut and now enters his second season with the Raiders as a key defensive player first-year coach Jon Gruden expects to contribute.

As Obi enters the beginning of his professional career, Ifeatu will soon be doing the same at Syracuse. The potential for the youngest Melifonwu to follow in his brother's footsteps made him a signing day victory for the Orange, which last had a cornerback drafted in 2007 (Tanard Jackson, fourth round).

"When I'm back and he's back, we definitely work out together," Melifonwu said. "He gives me different workouts to do, different footwork drills, things like that all the time.

"He'll watch my film, give me different techniques, echo what the coach is saying, obviously, but help me on what he's learned. He's always giving me feedback all the time."